How to improve workplace accessibility
Sociability
|
Oct 2, 2025
Workplace accessibility ensures everyone feels comfortable coming on-site and collaborating. At Sociability, we know the importance of in-person collaboration for building company culture, and aligning on strategy. Every month our team gathers in the office - travelling from as far as 400km away - to brainstorm, debate ideas and share good food. And we make sure this experience is inclusive and accessible.
But that’s not always the case at every organisation. Disabled employees are often excluded from core team experiences because they’re unsure the office is actually accessible to them. If you want disabled talent to collaborate in-person, you have to make sure coming on-site is accessible!
How to improve workplace accessibility
1. Create an accessible reception
As the first interaction with your workplace, the visitor check-in process sets the tone. An inaccessible check-in process is exclusive from the start - making it clear you don’t value your Disabled employees on-site, or expect them to be there in the first place.
Let your disabled employees know you want them there by:
Describing the process in advance so everyone knows what to expect, and can ask any questions beforehand - avoiding delays at reception.
Ensuring digital tools are voice activated, and screen reader compatible to improve access for visually impaired people.
Creating a welcoming experience with seated-height reception desks and check-in screens - that don’t leave wheelchair users talking to a wall.
2. Share accessibility information upfront
What’s the point of commuting to the office if you can’t access the meeting room - or enjoy lunchtime chats in the canteen? Access anxiety for disabled employees is real and frustrating. Sharing detailed accessibility information ahead of time:
Helps disabled visitors feel confident they can access your site. Knowing information in advance means Disabled visitors can raise concerns beforehand, avoiding last-minute scrambles, and changes.
Supports non-disabled staff to share accommodations in advance, so that disabled visitors know there will be an option that works for them.
Allows neurodivergent coworkers to get familiar with a space. That way they can focus on learning and collaborating, rather than distracting noises or surprising smells.
Sociability’s Accessibility Management System (AMS) makes it easy to share tailored accessibility information with coworkers and visitors. You can create tailored views for different audiences, and share links to spaces directly, to help people to feel confident coming on site!
Book a discovery call to learn more!
3. Create feedback loops for improving workplace accessibility
Creating an accessible workplace is an ongoing initiative. Open communication helps you consistently improve workplace accessibility based on feedback from your Disabled employees and colleagues.
To create effective feedback loops, and gain greater insights into the accessibility of your workplace:
Offer varied formats for providing feedback so that everyone can offer their opinion in a way that feels comfortable.
Don’t expect Disabled coworkers to act like consultants. Instead, create opportunities for Disabled employees to describe the problems they currently face at work, and avoid assuming they are experts on accessibility best practice.
Clearly sign-post opportunities to provide feedback and ensure everyone in your organisation knows where they can go to share their experience.
Ready to make your workplace more accessible?
Hybrid working is popular among disabled talent for a reason. Flexibility is essential to managing care and health. And it’s not just disabled talent prioritising flexibility. 62% of business leaders work across multiple sites - moving from central offices, to local offices, and back home again.
The fleeting windows of time we spend in the office together are important. These instances are key for connecting with future mentors, challenging each other’s ideas, and aligning on company goals. Disabled people deserve to be included in on-site collaboration, and feel confident they can access the space!
Start prioritising accessibility!
Book a discovery call to see how Sociability can help make collaboration in your office more inclusive!
Join industry leaders like Arup and Toyota in putting accessibility at the core of your workplace culture.
Sign up to our free newsletter, packed full of insights and tips for where and how to start your accessibility journey!
Workplace accessibility ensures everyone feels comfortable coming on-site and collaborating. At Sociability, we know the importance of in-person collaboration for building company culture, and aligning on strategy. Every month our team gathers in the office - travelling from as far as 400km away - to brainstorm, debate ideas and share good food. And we make sure this experience is inclusive and accessible.
But that’s not always the case at every organisation. Disabled employees are often excluded from core team experiences because they’re unsure the office is actually accessible to them. If you want disabled talent to collaborate in-person, you have to make sure coming on-site is accessible!
How to improve workplace accessibility
1. Create an accessible reception
As the first interaction with your workplace, the visitor check-in process sets the tone. An inaccessible check-in process is exclusive from the start - making it clear you don’t value your Disabled employees on-site, or expect them to be there in the first place.
Let your disabled employees know you want them there by:
Describing the process in advance so everyone knows what to expect, and can ask any questions beforehand - avoiding delays at reception.
Ensuring digital tools are voice activated, and screen reader compatible to improve access for visually impaired people.
Creating a welcoming experience with seated-height reception desks and check-in screens - that don’t leave wheelchair users talking to a wall.
2. Share accessibility information upfront
What’s the point of commuting to the office if you can’t access the meeting room - or enjoy lunchtime chats in the canteen? Access anxiety for disabled employees is real and frustrating. Sharing detailed accessibility information ahead of time:
Helps disabled visitors feel confident they can access your site. Knowing information in advance means Disabled visitors can raise concerns beforehand, avoiding last-minute scrambles, and changes.
Supports non-disabled staff to share accommodations in advance, so that disabled visitors know there will be an option that works for them.
Allows neurodivergent coworkers to get familiar with a space. That way they can focus on learning and collaborating, rather than distracting noises or surprising smells.
Sociability’s Accessibility Management System (AMS) makes it easy to share tailored accessibility information with coworkers and visitors. You can create tailored views for different audiences, and share links to spaces directly, to help people to feel confident coming on site!
Book a discovery call to learn more!
3. Create feedback loops for improving workplace accessibility
Creating an accessible workplace is an ongoing initiative. Open communication helps you consistently improve workplace accessibility based on feedback from your Disabled employees and colleagues.
To create effective feedback loops, and gain greater insights into the accessibility of your workplace:
Offer varied formats for providing feedback so that everyone can offer their opinion in a way that feels comfortable.
Don’t expect Disabled coworkers to act like consultants. Instead, create opportunities for Disabled employees to describe the problems they currently face at work, and avoid assuming they are experts on accessibility best practice.
Clearly sign-post opportunities to provide feedback and ensure everyone in your organisation knows where they can go to share their experience.
Ready to make your workplace more accessible?
Hybrid working is popular among disabled talent for a reason. Flexibility is essential to managing care and health. And it’s not just disabled talent prioritising flexibility. 62% of business leaders work across multiple sites - moving from central offices, to local offices, and back home again.
The fleeting windows of time we spend in the office together are important. These instances are key for connecting with future mentors, challenging each other’s ideas, and aligning on company goals. Disabled people deserve to be included in on-site collaboration, and feel confident they can access the space!
Start prioritising accessibility!
Book a discovery call to see how Sociability can help make collaboration in your office more inclusive!
Join industry leaders like Arup and Toyota in putting accessibility at the core of your workplace culture.
Sign up to our free newsletter, packed full of insights and tips for where and how to start your accessibility journey!
Workplace accessibility ensures everyone feels comfortable coming on-site and collaborating. At Sociability, we know the importance of in-person collaboration for building company culture, and aligning on strategy. Every month our team gathers in the office - travelling from as far as 400km away - to brainstorm, debate ideas and share good food. And we make sure this experience is inclusive and accessible.
But that’s not always the case at every organisation. Disabled employees are often excluded from core team experiences because they’re unsure the office is actually accessible to them. If you want disabled talent to collaborate in-person, you have to make sure coming on-site is accessible!
How to improve workplace accessibility
1. Create an accessible reception
As the first interaction with your workplace, the visitor check-in process sets the tone. An inaccessible check-in process is exclusive from the start - making it clear you don’t value your Disabled employees on-site, or expect them to be there in the first place.
Let your disabled employees know you want them there by:
Describing the process in advance so everyone knows what to expect, and can ask any questions beforehand - avoiding delays at reception.
Ensuring digital tools are voice activated, and screen reader compatible to improve access for visually impaired people.
Creating a welcoming experience with seated-height reception desks and check-in screens - that don’t leave wheelchair users talking to a wall.
2. Share accessibility information upfront
What’s the point of commuting to the office if you can’t access the meeting room - or enjoy lunchtime chats in the canteen? Access anxiety for disabled employees is real and frustrating. Sharing detailed accessibility information ahead of time:
Helps disabled visitors feel confident they can access your site. Knowing information in advance means Disabled visitors can raise concerns beforehand, avoiding last-minute scrambles, and changes.
Supports non-disabled staff to share accommodations in advance, so that disabled visitors know there will be an option that works for them.
Allows neurodivergent coworkers to get familiar with a space. That way they can focus on learning and collaborating, rather than distracting noises or surprising smells.
Sociability’s Accessibility Management System (AMS) makes it easy to share tailored accessibility information with coworkers and visitors. You can create tailored views for different audiences, and share links to spaces directly, to help people to feel confident coming on site!
Book a discovery call to learn more!
3. Create feedback loops for improving workplace accessibility
Creating an accessible workplace is an ongoing initiative. Open communication helps you consistently improve workplace accessibility based on feedback from your Disabled employees and colleagues.
To create effective feedback loops, and gain greater insights into the accessibility of your workplace:
Offer varied formats for providing feedback so that everyone can offer their opinion in a way that feels comfortable.
Don’t expect Disabled coworkers to act like consultants. Instead, create opportunities for Disabled employees to describe the problems they currently face at work, and avoid assuming they are experts on accessibility best practice.
Clearly sign-post opportunities to provide feedback and ensure everyone in your organisation knows where they can go to share their experience.
Ready to make your workplace more accessible?
Hybrid working is popular among disabled talent for a reason. Flexibility is essential to managing care and health. And it’s not just disabled talent prioritising flexibility. 62% of business leaders work across multiple sites - moving from central offices, to local offices, and back home again.
The fleeting windows of time we spend in the office together are important. These instances are key for connecting with future mentors, challenging each other’s ideas, and aligning on company goals. Disabled people deserve to be included in on-site collaboration, and feel confident they can access the space!
Start prioritising accessibility!
Book a discovery call to see how Sociability can help make collaboration in your office more inclusive!
Join industry leaders like Arup and Toyota in putting accessibility at the core of your workplace culture.
Sign up to our free newsletter, packed full of insights and tips for where and how to start your accessibility journey!
